U.S. Admissions Officers Visit AUA with Trustee Carol Aslanian to Discuss Study Abroad at AUA

2 min read

YEREVAN, Armenia – On September 25, 2015, the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted Trustee Carol Aslanian and four admissions officers from leading universities in the United States for a tour of the campus and discussion with AUA President Armen Der Kiureghian about study abroad opportunities at AUA.  

Along with Aslanian, President Der Kiureghian sat down with Patricia Wasyliw, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Advising in the College of Arts & Sciences at Cornell University, Bobbe Fernando, Director of International Admissions at New York University, Amy W. Jarich, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of Undergraduate Admissions at UC Berkeley, and Nancy Hargrave Meislahn, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Wesleyan University. Also present were Arina Zohrabian, AUA Director of Admissions, and Dr. Sergey Tantushyan, who was representing the RVVZ Foundation, the host for the group of admission officers.

The discussion centered around AUA’s Study Abroad program, which was launched in 2014, and the ways in which it can establish connections and collaborations with universities around the world in an effort to bring more students to Armenia. The meeting allowed for a productive exchange of ideas between AUA and its visitors. “We’re very eager to welcome more international students, as they will add to the diversity of our student body” said President Der Kiureghian. “This country is the perfect place to study abroad.”

Armenia, often described as an open-air museum, has a rich culture and ancient history that provides the perfect backdrop for studying abroad. Students spend their days learning in the warm and welcoming environment that AUA provides, while at the same time having the opportunity to explore the many museums, theaters, parks, and historical sites that make Armenia so unique. As a young country that is constantly developing, there is a sense of excitement and possibility that drives positive change in Armenia. Students that come to AUA to study abroad are not just developing themselves, they are actively participating in the development of the country as a whole.

Study Abroad program participants can choose from a wide range of courses to match their university academic plans, and may even have the opportunity to choose from AUA’s many Master’s degree courses. And since AUA is a U.S.-accredited institution, students can easily transfer credits earned at AUA and apply them toward a degree at another institution. Study abroad students also have the opportunity to get involved in all the same activities that matriculated students are involved in – from clubs, to university events, to attending seminars, films and guest lectures. At AUA, it’s easy for study abroad students to integrate themselves into the rest of the student body.

The admission officers, all of whom were visiting AUA for the first time, were given a tour of the campus and introduced to all the modern services that AUA provides. “The facilities are exceptional,” said Bobbe Fernando of NYU. “I am very impressed.”

 

The meeting with President Der Kiureghian came about after Aslanian invited the group of admission officers to tour several of Armenia’s most influential educational institutions. The group’s schedule also included visits to the new UWC Dilijan campus and TUMO, among others.

 

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values.